Founder of Summitville Tiles, beef program is eulogized

SUMMITVILLE — Services were held Monday at First Presbyterian Church in Salem for businessman and civic leader Fred H. Johnson Jr.

Johnson, 91, of Summitville, who died Sept. 6, and his brother, Peter, launched Summitville Tiles in 1947.

When Johnson retired in 1982, the company had three manufacturing operations and a chain of distribution centers across the country.

After his retirement, he continued to develop the family cattle operations, Summitcrest Farms, which he started in 1949.

In 1978, he helped found Certified Angus Beef, one of the largest and most successful beef brand program in the world, with current annual sales throughout the world in excess of 500 million pounds.

After retiring from Summitcrest in 1995, he established the Loup River Ranch and built a second home near Milburn, Neb.

Johnson was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart after being seriously wounded while serving as an infantryman with the U.S. Army’s 88th Division in Italy during World War II. He also was also awarded the Lone Eagle Scout badge by Dan Baird, the founder of Boy Scouts of America.

For more than 35 years, Johnson served on the board of Citizen Bank and its successor, Sky Bank, where he retired as chairman of the board. Upon his retirement, the bank’s new headquarters in Salineville was named the Fred H. Johnson Building.

He leaves his wife of 47 years, Betty; seven children; his brother; 15 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.